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Sen Nari Sushi Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
18220 S Western AveGardena, CA 90248
Neighborhoods: Torrance, Harbor Gateway
(310) 324-1970
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
84 reviews for Sen Nari Sushi Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Top favorites: Hamachi Kama, Salmon skin salad, Natto maki..." In 4 reviews -
"The fish and other seafood is top notch." In 7 reviews -
"sushi chefs are extremely friendly and attentative." In 25 reviews
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84 reviews in English
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Review from Jovel C.
Long Beach, CA
2/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Like others have mentioned, the staff and chefs were friendly and welcoming. As far as I can tell, it is a family owned sushi shop and so is not very busy or loud. It is a nice place to enjoy a meal in a cozy place.
I've gone here twice so far and the selection has been consistently wonderful. salmon sushi is solid and fresh. I love their hamachi sushi...it was part melt in your mouth good and part firm enough to enjoy a little bit longer. But the best part, and well worth the cost, is the melt in your mouth and blow your mind away uni sushi. I've never had one that tasted so smooth without any fishy/sea taste. It was perfect! -
Review from G S.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/5/2012
Hello all,
I'm new to Yelp and this is my first review. A friend of mine took me to this place and oh my the food is very very tasty. It's a bit pricey by the way but the food is amazing. love it -
Review from Chris K.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. Super friendly staff, the chefs are awesome, the fish is fresh - what more can you want? I had a sampling of some of the more common sushi (yellow tail, salmon, tuna, and my favorite, unagi), and was impressed by all of it. The fish to rice ratio was fantastic (big pieces of fish that weren't overwhelmed by a heap of rice underneath). The best way I know how to describe it is that the sushi had a delicacy to it that I've only found at the highest end sushi restaurants.
The downside is that it isn't cheap, I would bank on spending $40-50 per person with tip, possibly more depending on how much you eat. There were two of us, and the bill with tip was around $110; that was for 2 rolls, 7 individual orders, a beer (or maybe 2? I can't remember) and a large sake. So it's not unreasonable, but it's certainly not cheap either. -
Review from Laurie S.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
5/16/2012
A friend came into town the other day and chose sushi as her lunch of choice. Since they would be coming off of the 405, I decided that Sen Nari would be a good meeting place. We went just before noon and there was room at the bar, so we sat down. While I asked what was fresh and ordered uni, scallops, aji, she started with salmon. Everything was ok. Nothing spectacular, but why the 2 stars? Toward the end of the meal, after I had shared my more eclectic choices with my friend, she ordered another salmon. The salmon that was served the second time was wonderfully fatty. The neta was large and glistening. The first serving was most likely salmon that was cooking grade, not sashimi grade. My objection? A sushi restaurant that bases what they serve by the appearance of a customer is not the restaurant for me. Have some pride in what you make.....strive for the best that you can do and still have a viable business. Don't serve non-regulars or non-Japanese customers lower grade fish just because you think they won't know. You underestimate your clientele.
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Review from Lisa P.
Gardena, CA
2/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I love this place! The head sushi chef is really nice and friendly and the sashimi is really fresh and tasty. I had a combination sashimi plate that came with a huge bowl of steamed rice and miso soup and everything was really good.
I kind of gave up on finding a good sushi place in the south bay but Sen Nari is really great! The place itself is small and the prices are a bit expensive, it was worth it. -
Review from Garry M.
Solon, OH
4/12/2012
Simply the best. Let Sonny take care of you. You will not be disappointed.
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Review from Mark R.
San Pedro, CA
3/14/2012
Very fresh fish, but the sushi/sashimi excel compared to the rolls. The rolls are pretty good, but it's the sushi that really shines. We got the usual gaijin fare: Maguro, Hamachi, Hirame, Sake, Unagi and Albacore. All were exceptional; this coming from a guy who travels to Japan frequently and has eaten at Tsukiji Fish Market and all the great places in Akasaka and Shimbashi.
My girl and I had been No 1 fans of another Torrance sushi joint over by Western and Sepulveda until the Mom 'n' Pop that ran the place retired after 20 years, and we were bereft at the thought of trying to find another sushi place in the South Bay that could measure up. We tried several and they were found wanting. Not only was the fish very tasty, but the ambience was great and the service was friendly and cheerful. If they'll have us, Sen Nari is our new haunt.
Also, don't know where these other guys are talking about overcharging - my wife and I got out of there, with a large sake, for $60 total, plus tip. Maybe the other guys are ordering hard-to-get items, and that drives up the price. These prices are totally in the realm of a good night out, and excellent fish to boot. Definitely returning and seeing how crazy we can get with the omakase. -
Review from Ume E.
South Bay, CA
11/20/2011
Anyone who does not like this place is a sushi novice. Sen Nari serves some of the freshest sushi I've had this side of the Pacific Ocean...
creative use of flavors that are designed to showcase the fish... that's what sushi is all about... everything just melts... Nozomi still has the best Uni in the south bay, but fish-wise, this is the place to go ... Service is top notch as well. Definitely a gastronomical experience. -
Review from Evelyn S.
11/11/2011
As an avid sushi lover, I eat anything raw with rice. Yeah, I can be picky about the quality of the fish, but hey, I can't afford the best quality sushi all the time, so I feel like I'm generally not picky with my sushi.
With that said, this place was HORRID. I rarely go to a sushi place and leave unsatisfied afterwards, but my whole entire family were pretty unhappy.
We got the 2 sushi combination, with appetizers like cooked yellowtail.
1. The fish quality was just so-so.
2. Too much rice, with not enough vinegar added in.
My dad had to eventually order the California roll, which was the BEST thing we've eaten there all day. Do you hear the irony? The least traditional Japanese roll was the best. Knowing this, my mom asked my dad why he even bothered to order the CA roll, and not order something more authentic. His answer: "Their fish is not good, so hopefully this fake crab meat with avocado will be the most fulfilling thing so I can at least be a bit full." LOL.
Sad, definitely will not come back ever again. The bill was like $80, including all the sushi with a large sake.
Oh and did I mention that my mom and I got a tummy ache afterwards? -
Review from Erin N.
12/24/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I came here for dinner and it was spectacular. Very traditional sushi which is a HUGE plus in my book. The price was a little bit of a set back but the quality was great, so I have no complaints. You get what you pay for! It was not very crowded when I went to Sen Nari, in fact it was pretty empty! My favorite part of the meal-- the cute little orange at the end :D yeeeeeaaabuddy.
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Review from Ronald M.
Torrance, CA
2/13/2012
Sen Nari has the freshest, best tasting, best prepared sushi I've eaten. The staff is always friendly and the prices are reasonable for the quality of fish you get.
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Review from N. W.
Sherman Oaks, CA
2/26/2011
By far the best sushi I've had in LA. I think it's worth noting that I used to be heavy into rolls (california, eel, scallop, spicy tuna, etc.) but I recently went to Japan and discovered how one should really eat sushi. Now, I'm no longer a big roll eater- I'm not interested in temporah or rolls covered in sauces that just drown out the flavor of the fish. Give me a simple piece of high quality fish on top of rice and I'm good.
Sen Nari's sushi is closest to the freshness, quality and taste that I experienced while in Japan... and I think if you're having sushi that should be the goal.
Oh, one last note- we always sit at the sushi bar and make a point to sit on the far left since that is where our favorite chef is stationed. He doesn't speak very good english, but understands your order well enough. If you're adventurous like me you can just let him surprise you! He loves what he does and will make a delicious array of sushi for you to try- he's awesome! -
Review from Allen D.
Norwalk, CA
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sen Nari Sushi is one of the top sushi spots in the west LA area. The fish overall is fresh and the chefs are top notch. This place is a little old-school and prices are a little on the high side. Definitely no frills, but you will spot many Japanese businessmen from the nearby neighborhood hitting this place up for lunch.
Tip: Parking is, non existent. Most likely you will have to find a spot on the street nearby. Also: the DYNAMITE is the best here! -
Review from Suzy W.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2010 3 photos
This is located in the same plaza as Asa Ramen. If you're in the area it's worth visiting, but it's not worth a special trip. The yellowtail, tuna and albacore sashimi were pretty fresh - but pieces were sort of skimpy because they were more like 1/2 pieces. http://www.yelp.com/bi... The yellowtail collar was good and came with a side of ponzu for dipping. Prices are also average at around $65 for two. After dinner the sushi chef gives everyone a cute sliced up, easy-to-eat orange.
Parking is easy...lots of spaces available on a Thursday night in the front of the restaurant. Here's some pics of some items we had:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Kacy L.
Santa Monica, CA
7/12/2011 1 photo
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Everything about it is great. Authentic feel, extremely friendly/attentative staff, and most of all....GREAT SUSHI! My friend told me that her family has been going there for years and she absolutely loves it, so I decided to go there with my family one night. You can sit at the sushi bar(which I recommend), at a table, or at an authentic Japanese style table where you sit on the floor with your shoes off(there is name for this style but please forgive me, I forget). If you're in the mood for great sushi, nice people, and a small quiet atmosphere, this place is a MUST!
Listed in: Date Night, Great Businesses
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Review from Kayko T.
Torrance, CA
Updated - 12/30/2010
Sen Nari has become my second home. From the last time I yelped about them, to now, they went from a 4 star to 5 stars!
I don't know what makes their sushi so amazing!
Everywhere else that I go does not compare and I always regret spending my money on any other sushi spot.
Top favorites: Hamachi Kama, Salmon skin salad, Natto maki, tempura roll, tai and uni sushi.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2010
This has become a stomping ground for my girlfriend and I. Although it cannot compare to some places… Read more »
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Review from Jen M.
2/9/2011
Sushi at its best!
I haven't been here in awhile, but am on a sushi yelping roll.
This is the best place for toro in the South Bay. Melt in your mouth, fatty, buttery heaven. mmmmmm.....
The sushi and sashimi here are top notch and always fresh.
If you are a sushi lover, then this place is a must on your list! For those who enjoy sushi, but don't like the sticker shock value - then this place may not be for you.
Wait staff is always friendly too! Love Sen Nari!!!!! -
Review from Bora K.
4/15/2008
After picking up some precious cargo coming in from the Galapagos at nearby LAX one night, dinner was in order and Japanese seemed the easiest choice since Gardena was so close. Sen Nari was determined as the dining destination of the night and once there, the choice seemed to be a good one seeing how there was no wait and the restaurant was clean and bright.
Service was friendly and attentive- the owner Sonny definitely took great care to make sure all needs were being met at the sushi bar and all else was taken care of by a waitress who hovered close by throughout the meal. My green tea was topped off all night and when the soothing miso soup with clams was ordered, it came out quick and piping hot.
Per Sonny's recommendations as well as personal preferences, dinner consisted of a sampling of Hamachi, Sake, Kaki, Mirugai, Engawa, Aji, Chu toro, and Uni sushi. Everything was fresh and tasty but nothing extraordinary. My favorite had to be the Engawa- the halibut fin had a slight bite to the texture and the yuzu kosho that came on top enhanced the taste. It was my first time having Kaki as nigiri and I realized that I definitely prefer my oysters plain. The ponzu that came squirted on top soaked into the rice and once in my mouth, became distracting by coming apart immediately. I appreciate raw oysters for their bright and fresh brininess, and that characteristic was definitely lost because of how it came presented. A mental note was made accordingly- fresh oysters should not be eaten as nigiri.
The meal was a good one and the quality of service was on par but the prices were definitely too high for what it was. "See you tomorrow!" said Sonny at the end of the meal. Yeah right, buddy- only if you're paying. -
Review from Nick H.
12/8/2009 3 photos
Omakase for Lunch! Sushi, Sashimi and an Orange!
Ankimo 5 Stars. DELICIOUS! ORDER THIS!!
Sashimi plate-Fresh and pretty tasty-4 stars
Sushi-Again fresh and pretty tasty-4 Stars
Ice Green Tea-AOK. 3 Stars
Complimentary Orange and Sweet Shrimp made our day.
~Price-
Wow.. 40 bucks a person for lunch. I guess there is no difference between omakase in the day or night. I have no idea why I expected it to be cheaper. 40 bucks per person is actually quite cheap for omakase...especially with this quality.
~Ambiance
I have found in the past that my experience with sushi is intertwined with the relationship I have with the sushi chefs. Sometimes this rapport is hard to establish, as sushi is expensive and I cannot go that often. Not here!
My buddy and I were greeted by one of the sushi chefs and the owner. A conversation evolved and lasted the entire time we were there. I can say that we actually exchanged personal information. Knowing your chefs and owner always results in a better experience. This was probably the most friendly group I have come across. I wish it was closer to my house.
BONUS! This place sits right next door to a wonderfully delicious French/Japanese Bakery, Bonjour!
I am not sure that I would drive out of my way to come here. Next time I am in the area and in the mood for sushi, this is the place! Yay, I am a fan!Listed in: Nick-San and the Best Japanese…
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Review from Mai L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/15/2007 1 photo
Sen Nari requires a different kind of sushi palate, a deep appreciation for the natural flavors of dish. It's the mom and pop joint found on every street in Japan except it's in Gardena. This is the real deal. During the week you will find executives from Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.
One of the key elements to having a great experience at Sen Nari is developing a relationship with the sushi chefs (i.e. Sunny, Jun or Tatsu). I have been going to Sen Nari for almost ten years. Tonight's visit was especially magnificent because the spearfisher brought two fresh scorpion fish and a 20lb sheepshead to the restaurant.
From there Tatsu, took it into the kitchen and for ten minutes he scaled, cleaned, and cut the heads off. The final product was sheepshead prepared two ways the first dish was grilled so delicately it fell apart when my chopsticks touched it. The second was a panko fried sheepshead drizzled in lemon and served with tonkatsu dipping sauce. The sheepshead eats shell fish and lobster. The way Tatsu prepared it, it did not mask the flavor of the meat in fact, it enhanced the unique meat. The scorpion fish was finely cut into sashimi pieces and we shared it with other patrons. In exchange for their culinary skills we ate 8 ounces and split the rest amongst the staff. Thank you Sen Nari. Next time we're bringing lobster. As Sunny says, "See you tomorrow!" -
Review from Tina L.
Pasadena, CA
1/4/2008
A client of mine is Japanese, and since he's a VIP every time we eat it's on an unlimited company expense account. Of all the restaurant's on the Westside he always chooses Sen Nari. We've been going there, once a month, for about 4 yrs. They definitely serve very fresh, melt-in-your-mouth fish!
Sony (the owner) hand selects all the seafood (except the Uni which is delivered 3 times a week) at the fish market every morning before the restaurant opens. Usually we sit at the bar and let him serve us omakase. Some of my fave's are the salmon skin salad, broiled toro sushi, and Spanish mackerel. They even serve poisonous blow fish, but you need to order in advance and only if it's in season. He's got a great sense of humor and every time you leave he'll say "see you tomorrow!!"
BTW-- they open for lunch at 11:45. -
Review from Diana I.
I've been coming here for years, ever since I was little. I even remember celebrating my 15th birthday here in one of the little rooms. HAHA!
After a long hiatus, I came here again last night with my bf. We ordered sake, a scallop dynamite, spicy tuna roll, smoked salmon hand rolls, and a bunch of sushi--tuna, albacore, yellowtail, unagi, and tamago. All of it was fresh and delicious, just how I remember the place! My favorite was the albacore. It seriously melted in my mouth! I also love how they give you complimentary edamame at the beginning and cutely sliced oranges in a "boat" at the end (see pics). It was nice to see the familiar faces too, the same sushi makers working diligently behind the sushi bar. I love their friendly shouts as you enter and exit the restaurant! Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to as long as I'm in the South Bay! :)Listed in: Sushi in SoCal!
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Review from Roman T.
3/13/2008 1 photo
I get easily intimidated at authentic sushi places. While I like to think I'm a sushi snob, this type of restaurant puts me in my place.
The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. The chefs pay close attention to everyone and the service is outstanding.
The fish is fresh and they have really unique choices. I wish I would be a bit more helpful, but not only do I not remember the names of what we ordered, I had trouble pronouncing half the stuff. Only thing I do remember is that I didn't like their Japanese Mackerel. I thought it was a bit too fishy and it didn't compare to other places. Also they didn't know what Albacore was. The chef called it Baby Tuna (I know it's "White" Tuna, but never heard anyone call it Baby Tuna before). However, when you go to places like this, it is better to think outside your norm and you will definitely enjoy it.
I believe it came out to $40-$45 a person, but it was definitely a fun and enlightening experience. I did learn I have a long way to go before I can call myself a sushi snob.Listed in: Sushi Snob in training.....
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Review from Stephanie N.
Clearwater, FL
6/5/2007
Ok, came and I have a few pointers for pple who come. Only go on Friday or Tuesday nights - that's when they get their new shipment of fish in then do as follows:
1. Make sure to sit at the bar
2. Make sure to get the young guy (does more creative stuff, get the older gentlemen for more traditional stuff)
3. Get the meal as such: Once price $75 for basically all you want
4. Let the chef make all your choices
My favs of the night: the needle fish, uni w/ Alaskan crab, Spanish mackerel, sweet shrimp, scallop, foie gras-esque appetizer -
Review from wu s.
Manhattan Beach, CA
10/16/2011
This is now my second sushi place in the South Bay. Since I've only had lunch here once, it's not my top place yet. The sushi lunch we had here on last Friday was very good.
We each had a lunch special (sushi plate and chirashi bowl). We also had a spicy scallop roll, amberjack sushi, masago, and unagi. All of the sushi was very fresh. I loved the rice in my chirashi bowl and sushi. The scallop roll was a big winner for me too. This is a top notch sushi restaurant.
There were a lot of repeat customers and the sushi chefs had a good repoir with them. They spoke to the customers and generally made this small restaurant a very welcome place. I highly recommend this place.
The price is a bit more than other places, but the fish is clearly very high quality. I plan to return in the future and sit at the sushi bar. I'd like to just spend a nice evening with my wife (no kids) with a beer and lots of sushi. -
Review from Rory O.
Manhattan Beach, CA
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am prepared to tell you this was very good sushi. The service was very good especially for lunch time. They are ready to serve up a meal the minute you sit down.
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Review from Miki M.
Houston, TX
12/16/2006
We went twice to this restaurant. The first time, in July 2006, we did a Omakase... the fresh fish was of high quality- YUMMY... but in the end, it got REALLY expensive!!! In the time, though, we rated the restaurant 5 stars because of the exceptional experience. We sat at the Sushi "Kauntaa" (bar) and our chef's name was Sunny, a guy with a moustache, a delightful smile and a gentle Japanese sense of humor: a lot of fun!
The second time was tonight...
Because of getting slammed last time, and since we were a group of 3, we decided to avoid the Omakase by sitting at a table. By doing so, we were pretty much the only ones that were not at the Sushi Kauntaa. In addition, I realized we were also the only non-Japanese...
We ordered very carefully this time- we looked at the price and planned. When we got our order, we thought the fish was decent, but we didn't taste anything exceptional. In fact, as a regular Sushi eater, I felt the Amaebi (sweet shrimp) was clearly not a live shrimp. And the Toro was not a prime quality- not even Chuu-Toro (mid-range). So it was not worth the price tag.
As I said above, we didn't eat a lot, and ordered carefully- expected a maximum of $45 per person. But when I asked for the final bill, the world started spinning: an exorbitant $200! NO f*ing way, we didn't eat sushi for $70 per person? What the??? The bill we got was NOT itemized- no chance to check its authenticity. We don't usually do the circus of discussing a bill with the restaurant, so we paid withou saying anything... But we are saying what we wanted to say here, on YELP, for you. We are downgrading the restaurant's rating to 2 stars, and urge you to exercise caution when ordering at Sen Nari Sushi- they overcharge.Listed in: Top Japanese Food in LA &…
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Review from Terry K.
9/11/2010
Stop in periodically with my good buddy who has a business in the area. Sushi is great, staff is great. sake is great.
Sushi taste and style of preparation is very close to that prepared in Japan. -
Review from Tracy T.
11/16/2007
Enjoyable sushi, but that's probably because I didn't look at the bill. Roommate picked up the tab since I'm going through boy drama right now. And nothing's quite the pick-me-up as Asahi and some good sushi!
Had some salmon, eel, crab, and yellowtail. Also had the best toro in my life. No wonder people rave about toro. I generally don't enjoy tuna since it's so meaty, but this toro was like buttahhhhh. Yeah it's so good I spelled it BUTTAHHHH. Which makes sense since butter is animal fat (okay fat from cream which comes from cows) and toro is fatty tuna. So it makes sense.
Salmon sushi had a funny taste to it. I rarely meet piece of salmon I don't like, so this was unusual. Maybe it was because every thing else was so good. Also, they put SO! much wasabi in their sushi! Maybe it's because they were in a hurry to get back to the Japanese businessmen who were ordering the real delicacies, or maybe I'm just too sensitive to wasabi, but to me it was like a ginormous smear under each piece of fish. Gross. It's not that I can't handle spicy stuff; I just don't like the taste of wasabi. Not a horseradish fan, you know?
Anyways, the place was filled with regulars and Japanese businessmen. All jabbering away in Japanese to the sushi chefs. So if you don't know Japanese, it's gonna be tough to find out the specials and the good stuff. Which is why we stuck to the basics.
Anyways, so the girl next to me was SUPER nice and friendly. She recommended the Special #4. There's no special menu though, so I couldn't tell you what special 1 through 3 were. But I took her word for it and ordered the special #4, which is so rich and creamy, if you weren't full before you'll be full now. Order it last. It's like dessert. Okay it in no way resembles dessert, other than you should order it last, but trust me. Or trust the helpful stranger who was sitting by me. Anyhoo, it's baked with salmon and other good stuff wrapped in seaweed with a dollop of mayo on top. It looks like those Vegas buffet chocolate mousse in a chocolate shell things. Well... kind of. I'm gonna stop the dessert analogy now; it's too hard.
Three stars because as good as the sushi was (it it was pretty good), you need to know Japanese to get by. And I don't know Japanese so it sucks to be me when there's such good sushi to be had! -
Review from annie t.
Torrance, CA
10/8/2010
Because I've heard my favorite sushi place, Tsukiji, has changed its ownership and everything, I needed to find a good place to eat sushi by Japanese chefs. I went to Sen Nari because it was close by.
When I entered the restaurant and saw a sushi chef's name tag which said "Sunny," I was worried if I came to a non-Japanese owned sushi place. But I found out later, he was from Japan and still struggling with some English. The sushi potion was small. I grew up in Japan and potions in Japan are relatively small but still I thought it could be a bit bigger. But all sushi was fresh and good. Their ankimo was so great, I had to order twice.
The only disappointment was oysters. They've pre-opened the shells so although they weren't bad or anything but I could definitely taste the difference from the pre-opened oysters vs freshly opened oysters. I'm not a big fan of white fish but their kin-medai (snapper) was amazing! They put yuzu pepper (Japanese bitter citrus and pepper) on it and torched it for a few seconds. It was so good, I had to order that one again too.
The place is not cheap and for that I'd rather give them 3.5 star. But the sushi was good and fresh so I will go back but I will check other places out to see if there are better places than here. -
Review from Nelson K.
Los Angeles, CA
3/3/2010
What is it with the Torrance and Gardena area? It's like the mecca of great Japanese food. Every time I'm here eat at one great place after another.
Sen Nari was no different. We grabbed a seat at the sushi bar and proceeded to order the omekase from the older sushi chef (Koji?). Koji did not disappoint and served some remarkable pieces. He prepared all the good stuff like toro, sweet shrimp and uni, but it was the octopus that was the best. Crunchy with a peppery ponzu sauce and a hint of wasabi made it one of the best pieces of sushi I've ever had. All the fish were very fresh and very tasty.
Most of reviewers are critical of the price of the place but when I order omekase I expect to pay around $40 a person at a good sushi bar. So did this place deliver? Absolutely. -
Review from Andy H.
Irvine, CA
4/25/2007 4 photos
My favorite food is Japanese and I usually order Chirashi to benchmark the restaurant on my first visit. (Note the profile page with my Chirashi collections)
The Setting:
It is well-lighted and clean overall. Excellent place for taking pictures! It has two private tatami rooms but neither was occupied. Restroom is gender-separate with single toilet setting.
The Crowd:
It was a raining Sunday night and there were only 3 other group of 2-4 people besides myself and friend. Everyone spoke Japanese except our table however my friend was mistaken for Japanese as well. :)
Something Unique:
This restaurant is unique in the sense that they have the $15 and $20 option that can be made into Chirashi or Sushi. I thought about ordering the $20 one which has sea urchin however they do not have it in stock therefore I opted for the $15. (See picture)
The Food:
Salmon and Yellowtail are quite common in Chirashi and yet none were to be found when we ordered it so that's a minus for me.
The squid was chewy instead of crunchy which is a sign of degrading freshness.
The mackeral was also not optimal when excess water can be found.
The tuna was not cut evenly and most of the pieces are from side portions with very little taste.
In terms of the dessert they have greentea flan which is quite interesting to say the least because I never had the two in one taste. It's like combining two totally unrelated things and brain is getting feedback but still having hard time processing them.
The Service:
The waiting staff and chefs are friendly although their English seems limited. They were attentive and the tea was constantly filled.
Overall Experience:
I had a great time with my friend who is also an avid eater and photographer. Several times the staff seems amused the amout of time and details we were taking the pictures of the food. It's a good place for a date or family. However the quality of food fell quite short for a legit Japanese restaurant that I can recommend to my friends. -
Review from Edmund L.
9/22/2008
Go to Sen-Nari and sit at the counter for the real deal. Their chefs are highly skilled and very attentive. You can blurt out your order anytime and they're right on it. Fish is fresh (on Tuesdays and Fridays for sure). Service is excellent, you won't be ignored or shunned by anyone.
It's not cheap, but real sushi never is. As they say - if you're overly concerned about cost, maybe you shouldn't be eating out in the first place! -
Review from troy h.
4/4/2009
Exquisite.
Came here for lunch with a friend from Honda. He's a Peruvian guy who breaks the stereotype. He is a sushi fanatic!
For lunch we tried a small assortment of items, and all were top notch!
Hamachi, Saba(impressive), Maguro, Albacore, Uni(great), and a Scallop Temaki.
The prices are relatively fair considering the quality and freshness. The service is great and friendly.
I need to come back n try the other specials they have including: Kohada, Aji, etc. -
Review from Elaine K.
9/6/2010
I went here for a birthday dinner with my cousin last night.
It was pretty delicious overall.
The sushi chef was quite fun & interactive as well.
I've got to admit though...that I still like Sushi Sho in Costa Mesa the best.
No where else has exceeded my sushi expectations. -
Review from Rob W.
5/21/2010
Intended to come here just ordering a couple of pieces of fish and leaving, but ended up ordering much more and probably should've stuck with the omakase. the chef kept asking me if i wanted one more and that's all it took. was afraid the omakase would be too expensive, but now that i see that it is $40, it is pretty reasonable.
high lights included a yellow clam & scallop & 2 types of snapper. enjoyed the octopus and mackerel. didn't love the abalone (too chewy for my liking). chefs were fun too.Listed in: Best Sushi
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Review from Theo M.
New York, NY
8/28/2011
Just wish this place was in New York.
Honest,tasty,sensible sushi without the east coast sushi pretension.
If you're in LA,forgo the honky tonk sushi places and head over to Torrence/Gardena and eat your heart out. -
Review from Jeannette P.
Culver City, CA
2/3/2009 2 photos
I finally got a chance to check Sen Nari out tonight on my way home from my trip to San Francisco.
We ordered the baby tuna, yellowtail, fresh scallop (served plain with a dot of yuzu paste), and the special Japanese mackerel nigiri. We also had the dynamite (spicy yellowtail) and spicy tuna roll. All of the fish was fresh and delicious.. not super melt in your mouth bliss, but fresh nonetheless. This was the first time that lettuce was incorporated into a spicy roll and I liked the added texture and complexity.
We ended the evening with a small, but flavorful green tea flan... I had to get it because I've never seen or had a green tea flan, and I love flan.
The clientele seemed purely Asian, seemingly Japanese and most people I noticed had a large combination order of sashimi in front of them, so maybe this is what Sen Nari is known for. I look forward to my next visit where I will be ordering some Yellowtail Sashimi and Monkfish Liver...mmmm
Overall, a simple, yet satisfying sushi experience. The staff was extremely welcoming and attentive. I'll be back...soon. -
Review from Louis N.
Gardena, CA
12/26/2007
This is one of the top places to go if you're after great sushi and don't care if the place isn't gorgeous or trendy looking.
I don't have much sushi experiences but this one definitely stands out for me. The pieces are on the large side, very fresh looking and tasting. Haven't had a bad piece yet that makes me thing they're serving old or cheap stuff.
The main chef (I think he's the owner also but not sure), the guy with a thin mustache, goes to fish markets every day to select fishes and shell fishes himself early in the morning. He says it's like his hobby, and smiles that big smile. I bought it, appeared sincere and honest.
What a dedicated guy. He takes ownership of what's served to customers. I don't get a sense that he blames workers for something going bad, he'd gladly take the blow, smiling. I don't get that feeling of getting jipped from this place either like so many other places. The place is smallish so may not be good for large groups unless you can reserve the tatami area (semi private room where you sit on the floor). -
Review from Jen G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/8/2008
I don't get the hype. The food is average.
Unfortunately, due to various people I ate lunch with, been here several times.
